Assessment of egg quality in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, treated with testosterone: biochemical composition

Abstract

In the present study, eggs were collected from testosterone-treated Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and control (sham implanted) fish, and egg-quality parameters were compared. Egg weight and diameter, as well as protein, lipid, carbohydrate, dry matter, and ash contents, of eggs from testosterone-treated fish were significantly less than those of eggs from controls. Intensive utilization of protein energy for metabolism during egg development and predominant utilization of lipid energy after hatching was noted. Polyamines, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine contents in eggs from control and treated fish did not differ. However, embryos and alevins from testosterone-treated fish synthesized more polyamines than did controls during development. There were no significant differences in fertilization and hatching success, or in survival to the eyed stage and first feeding. The development of embryos from treated fish was slower than that of controls, but higher growth rates and greater development of alevins from treated groups were observed after hatching.